15 December 2005 Edition

Wexford takes up legacy of Mellowes

The Liam Mellowes commemorative weekend began on Saturday 10 December with a
large attendance for a forum held in the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey,
chaired by Christina McCauley. The panel included Sinn Féin Councillor John
Dwyer, Fianna Fáil Town Councillor, Malcolm Byrne, Historian Ruan O'Donnell
and Mick O'Reilly of the ATGWU.

Sinn Féin All-Ireland Co-ordinator Martina Anderson delivered the Daithí
Forde Memorial Lecture, The Legacy of Liam Mellowes and the Democratic
Programme of the First Dáil and it's relevance to modern Irish Republicanism.

Anderson spoke with passion and conviction about Liam Mellowes' vision for a
united Ireland of equals

Speaking about the late Daithí Forde, who was loved and valued by so many
people in Wexford, she said that when Daithí went into Wexford Hospital he
was left on a trolley without proper medical care. "If he had had the money
for private medical care would he have been with us today? We don't know but
there are countless others in the same situation because they cannot afford
private medical care and are therefore treated as second rate, because their
incomes are not as large as those of others. Anderson said that the best way
to commemorate Liam Mellowes and Daithí Forde was to forward the republican
struggle in which Wexford has played so huge a part.

Ruan O'Donnell spoke eloquently about two books concerning Mellowes, Liam
Mellows and The Irish Revolution and Notes from Mountjoy. He said more
events such as the commemorative weekend were needed as was more republican
history written by republicans.

Malcolm Byrne said there was a lack of debate about political issues.
Although he had some issues with Martina Anderson's paper on the Democratic
Programme of and its application today, he enjoyed it.

John Dwyer accused the current Dublin Government of paying lip service to
the ideals of the Democratic Programme and of airbrushing Liam Mellowes from
Irish history. He said Irish people must stand up for what they believe is
right and that radical politics was needed to change what is currently wrong
with society.

Mick O' Reilly said that a person who loses his memory is said to be sick. A
society or movement that loses its memory is also sick. He agreed that
Mellowes was airbrushed out of history. He said that with a vote and a union
card you could change society and that we need independent trade unions to
challenge the status quo.

Sunday's commemoration to Liam Mellowes' grave in Castletown was one of the
biggest in recent years. A parade led by a republican colour party and the
Ed O'Brien RFB band proceeded through Gorey's main street to be followed up
by a march from the Golden Anchor to Liam Mellowes' grave in Castletown
where wreaths were laid on behalf of Gorey by Councillor Jimmy Fleming,
Stephen McCann and Leo Kenny, on the graves of Mellowes and Denis and
Michael Kavanagh. Jim McDonagh and Noreen Sheridan laid wreaths on behalf of
Ferns and Enniscorthy respectively and Joss Kielty on behalf of the
Republican Movement.

Séamie Davitt gave a moving rendition of the Last Post and Chorus.

The organisers wish to express their thanks to weekend's sponsors An Glór
Gafa and also to the proprietors of the Anchor for the provision of
sandwiches after the commemoration.